Download Management Of Newly Introduced Sheep

Management Of Newly Introduced Sheep
Newly introduced, breeding and store sheep should be held in quarantine away from the main flock
for 4 weeks. This includes purchased animals but also those returning from away grazing. Any
lameness, illness or deaths should be investigated to prevent the spread of infectious disease outwith
the group. Diseases such as salmonellosis or pasteurellosis could flare up after the stress of sales,
mixing or transport.
The table outlines selected conditions but is not a comprehensive list. The quarantine period should
be used to inspect the sheep for other problems such as ringworm, orf or conjunctivitis. Remember
that there could be diseases on your farm that the purchased sheep don’t have immunity to e.g. Tick
Borne Fever. Make use of quarantine by vaccinating to protect against clostridial diseases,
pasteurella, EAE, Toxoplasmosis or footrot as required.
Disease
Resistant worms and
Haemonchus contortus
Action to Prevent Spread into Flock
Treat sequentially with monepantel and moxidectin. Hold off grazing for 2 days.
Don’t turn out onto clean grazing. Consider collecting faeces 14 days later to
check that treatment has been successful.
Resistant Fluke
Treat with triclabendazole and closantel on separate days and where possible
keep off wet fields for 4 weeks. Consider checking faeces for fluke eggs after this
period.
Sheep scab
On arrival either dip or inject with ivermectin, doramectin or moxidectin. Follow the
instructions in the data sheet for injection intervals and check withdrawal times.
Do not allow other sheep to pass through areas used by the purchased animals
for at least 17 days. Dipping will also remove ticks and lice. Pour ons have no
effect against scab mites.
Infectious abortion e.g. EAE, Manage separately until after lambing and investigate high barren rates and
Border Disease,
abortions. Source EAE accredited replacements. Can blood sample for Border
Campylobacter.
Disease.
Footrot
Inspect feet. Walk through 3% formalin or stand in 10% zinc sulphate. Lame
sheep should be separated and treated.
Contagious Ovine Digital
Inspect feet paying particular attention to the skin at the top of the hoof. Contact
Dermatitis
your vet if concerned.
Maedi Visna
Source from a maedi-visna accredited flock. Can blood sample.
Caseous Lymphadenitis
Check head and neck for lumps. Can blood sample. Some flocks monitor sheep
for sale.
OPA (Jaagsiekte)
No test available - cannot identify on purchase. Monitor on farm by postmortem of
dead ewes.
Johnes Disease
A blood test is available but healthy, infected sheep commonly test negative. Best
monitored by investigation/postmortem of thin ewes.
Heather Stevenson, SAC Veterinary Services
[email protected]